AARON SHAFOVALOFF Engaging in Gospel Discussions
Summary
It is possible for Christians to present the gospel to Mormons without having much background knowledge of Mormonism. While it is helpful to understand the teachings of this religion, using questions can be an effective tool, opening opportunities for correcting common misconceptions Mormons have about Christianity and sharing stories about Jesus from the four Gospels.
Introduction
Since 2007, I have regularly shared my faith with Mormons in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Temple Square is the number-one tourist site for the entire state of Utah. It is the heart of the city and home to Mormonism’s most prominent temple. Other believers join me to hand out pamphlets and newspapers while we occasionally do open-air preaching1 on the public streets surrounding the city-block square. This has been a wonderful place to share the gospel.
Most of what we do is conversational evangelism. Typically about half of those with whom we speak are tourists and nearby convention attendees while the other half are Mormons visiting the temple, strolling through the grounds on dates, or walking to classes at the nearby LDS Business College. I spend most of my time asking simple questions and sharing well-known stories about Jesus, even with deeply committed Mormons.
It is beneficial to have a working knowledge of Mormon doctrine and understand how many Latter-day Saints think. In fact, I try to stay conversant with Mormonism. Although I have a full-time job as a computer programmer, I regularly read LDS manuals, theology books, and LDS General Conference talks. I interact with Mormon apologists while helping train other Christians in sharing their faith. Based on my experience, one does not need to know a lot about Mormonism to plant meaningful seeds and provide a clear gospel presentation.
Starting a Conversation
Mormons believe they are already genuine Christians—the best kind. They remind me of the Jews that Paul spoke about in Romans 10:2 since “they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” They believe in a false god as well as a false gospel. I critically engage these issues, but I avoid doing this prematurely in conversation. First, it’s important to know the Mormon by asking some introductory questions, including these:
“Did you go on a mission?”
For those who are committed Mormons, especially men, this is a great start and will generally cause their eyes to light up. A mission is a special, formative time of life in their lives. It helps the Mormons begin speaking about themselves. If the person did go on a mission, here are possible follow-up questions:
Where did you serve your mission?
What are some highlights of your mission?
Perhaps they did not go on a mission. It’s important not to embarrass them, as serving a mission is a cultural expectation. Alternative questions work, such as:
“Where did you grow up? Did you ever have any born-again Christian friends there?”
If the person lives in a highly Mormon population (Idaho, Arizona, Montana, and especially Utah), this question is a reminder about how unreached our Mormon neighbors are. Many Latter-day Saints have never had a meaningful relationship with an evangelical Christian. If they have had such a friend, I like to ask:
“Did you ever talk about God together? What did you discuss?”
I want to help the Mormon introduce a topic we can talk about. We can work with it, build on it, and use it to share the gospel. These questions help us understand the person’s background. One of my favorite direct questions is:
“Have you ever heard a born-again Christian explain the gospel?”
Many Mormons have never had a simple summary of the gospel presented to them. If they say they have heard the gospel from an evangelical Christian perspective, ask,
“What did they say?”
Listen to see if the Mormon understood what was presented. Now you have something to work with. If the person says he or she has never heard a clear gospel presentation, ask,
“May I explain it? It would only take me a few minutes.”
The answer is usually yes! This is the perfect opportunity to share the basics of the biblical message without having to get into LDS doctrine.2 After a few minutes, I am able to get a sense (typically from body language) for whether I should continue or gracefully end the conversation.
In addition to having never heard a clear gospel presentation, most Mormons lack a basic understanding of Christian doctrine. They have not sufficiently considered Christian beliefs before finding them lacking. Rather, many of their disagreements with Christian theology are the result of an inaccurate understanding. When a topic comes up, I like to ask,
“Have you heard the born-again Christian explanation for _____?”
This question can help mitigate the temptation to quarrel or to correct unkindly. There is a time and a place for debate, strong refutation, and even rebuke. Apollos “powerfully refuted the Jews in public” (Acts 18:28). But while there are times for this, the general biblical pattern is to show kindness and patience in teaching and correcting. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:24-25, “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.”
When evangelizing Mormons, it is important to present support from the Word of God. There is an easy way to do this. Ask,
“May I show you a verse from the Bible on that subject?”
Read the verse slowly while providing an opportunity for participation. Prompt the Mormon to complete a sentence or read aloud a key word. Ask basic reading comprehension questions afterward. Give the person time to reread the passage.
As you offer explanations and share verses from the Bible, the Mormon may feel defensive or nervous about any tension that the conversation might initiate. Out of this anxiety, and because of Mormonism’s own claim to be the most authentic form of Christianity, many Latter-day Saints will want to minimize the differences between Mormonism and biblical Christianity. “We believe that too” or “We agree with that” are common responses, even when you’re describing distinctively evangelical doctrines that clearly contradict Mormon teaching. To help bring clarity to muddy waters, ask,
“What would you say are the biggest differences between Mormonism and evangelical Christianity?”
Listen to the differences they list. Often the Mormon will use phrases such as “modern-day prophets,” “the Book of Mormon,” or “being with families forever.” While important topics, these don’t come close in significance to the most important issues. I will often reply, “Thanks. What else?” until they list a doctrinal topic that would be helpful to talk about or until they ask in return, “What would you say are the biggest differences?”
These questions give me the chance to better learn about the individuals while seeing if they have an accurate understanding of what Christians believe. I will let them introduce a topic on their own and offer helpful explanations where their understanding is lacking. Starting a conversation is the hardest part, even for those of us who are experienced. Our hearts race too. But it usually only takes a few minutes before we are talking about something profoundly gospel related.
Correcting Common Misconceptions
Just as we cannot assume what individual Mormons believe,3 so too should we avoid assuming that they have an accurate understanding of the basics of Christianity. Misconceptions are low-hanging fruit—opportunities to provide helpful explanations. The following is a simple list of truths that can be shared with Mormons, each of which corrects a common misconception:
• The typical Christian church teaches the inevitability of a morally changed life for those who believe in Jesus. The forgiven are transformed.
• Christians believe in the resurrection of the body. The historic Christian teaching is that the body is important and will be renewed.
• The New Testament has been reliably preserved and is faithfully translated from the original Greek. Any major modern English translation can be trusted. If there are any significant “textual variants,” they are typically noted in footnotes.4
• A particular denomination is not a Christian’s religion, as those who belong to other denominations are considered to be a part of the same broad Christian family. Many Christians may not even be aware of the denomination with which their church is associated!
• The unity of Christians across the globe is not because of an organization. It is a shared trust in Jesus.
• Feelings and spiritual experiences are important to Christians. We feel deep emotion and a profound connection to God over songs, prayers, Scripture, and special experiences. Our feelings are fallible, but they are still important.
• While Paul sometimes paid his own way, he otherwise insisted that Christians pay their local pastor-teacher (1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:9; Galatians 6:6). Most pastors are underpaid and live on a tight budget. They are busy studying the Bible, counseling people, and dealing with needs in the congregation.
• The Council of Nicaea did not debate over whether the Godhead is three separate deities or whether the Father was an exalted human. It was about the divinity of Jesus. The Trinitarians held that Jesus was fully divine. The Arians instead held that Jesus was a created, inferior being.
• The Trinity does not teach that the Father, Son, and Spirit are one person. It affirms that they are three persons in relationship. For a Trinitarian, it is therefore no surprise that Jesus prayed to the Father.5
Sharing Stories About Jesus
I once heard a foreign missionary explain that his work was quite simple: he learned and shared a lot of “Jesus stories.” He had a list of all the parables, miracles, and teachings of Jesus on his refrigerator. He taught them to his children. He looked for ways to share them as a story. That sounds suitable for unreached peoples—for Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists—but what about for Mormons?
While Mormons have some familiarity with the Gospels, very few can answer the basic question, “What did Jesus teach?” It is our mission to teach them—or at least stir them up—by helping them connect the dots.
Sharing Jesus stories isn’t just about sharing new information. It is about revisiting and delighting in the stories. No matter how Mormons respond, there is joy in sharing the words and works of Jesus. This is how God encourages faith in Jesus. John 4:41 says that “many more believed because of his word.” John 8:30 adds, “As he was saying these things, many believed in him.”
Where can you start? I suggest that you be prepared to share stories about the authority of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most common topic for Mormons to stress is that of “priesthood authority.” Mormons believe that Jesus authorized apostles by the laying on of hands. When this comes up, I simply ask,
“Where did He do that?”
They flip through their pages, but this teaching is not there. At this, I expand the question:
“How would you say Jesus typically showed His authority in the Gospels?”
Whether or not they provide an example, I follow up with this:
“May I share a Jesus story with you?”
I suggest familiarizing yourself with Matthew chapters 8 and 9, which are packed with examples of Jesus demonstrating His authority. Among other things, Jesus tells
• a storm to be quiet (8:23-27)
• thousands of terrified demons “go” and they drown in water (8:32)
• a paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven” (9:2). To show He has the authority to pronounce this, He also says, “Rise, pick up your bed and go home” (9:6)
Sharing these stories with as many details that you can remember helps prime a listener for understanding the immense power of Jesus. The Roman centurion featured in Matthew 8:5-13 tells Jesus, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” Jesus replies, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion provides a profound understanding of the nature of the authority of Jesus:
Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes, and to another, “Come,” and he comes, and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.
Jesus responds with amazement. The centurion is correct. Jesus did not even need to be in the same room, perform a ritual, or touch anyone. As with the storm, the paralytic, and the casting out of demons, all He had to do was “say the word.” If time permits, share as many of these stories as you can remember. Let the Mormon see you glow as you share and treat His words as priceless and crucial to your life and faith. Since Mormons often know bits and pieces from these stories, you might prompt them to participate. When sharing a story, pause and let them finish a sentence. Or you can prompt them, “And then Jesus said…”
A wonderful way to end these stories is to ask,
“After He resurrected from the dead, how did Jesus authorize His apostles to preach, teach, and baptize?”
Whether or not they remember, open up the passage and review it with them. Cite the last paragraph of the Gospel of Matthew:
Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Again, all Jesus had to do was say the word. This is a wonderful segue to the good news of the gift of eternal life. Jesus promises in John 5:24:
Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
His work on the cross is finished. His words have infinite authority. Who can compete with that?
Challenging Mormons to Know the Words of Jesus
I challenge Mormons to pick one of the four Gospels and devote themselves to the study of it. Cursory knowledge will not suffice. I encourage them with a few key texts that cite Jesus in John 15:
• Verse 1: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
• Verse 2: He promises that those who bear fruit will be pruned by the Father to bear more fruit.
• Verse 3: “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
• Verse 7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Jesus says in John 6:63, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Earlier we saw how Jesus commanded the believers to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). This can’t be done without knowing His words. And it is disingenuous to recommend this to others without having done it ourselves.
The words of Jesus have supernatural power. Obeying them provides a durable foundation. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” And as Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
This approach is simple:
1. Ask questions to see if the Mormon understands the gospel.
2. Help introduce topics for conversation.
3. Offer to provide an evangelical Christian explanation for any misunderstandings or disputed topics.
4. Familiarize yourself with “Jesus stories” and share them.
Knowing about Mormonism will eventually help you better communicate with your Mormon neighbor. But that knowledge can come later. You can start doing the above today.
Aaron Shafovaloff (South Jordan, Utah) is a regular evangelist at Temple Square, an elder at the Mission Church in South Jordan, Utah, a volunteer with Mormonism Research Ministry, and the founder of www.Theopedia.com.